Webchat with Graham Cluley, computer security expert, Wednesday 2 September at 1pm

[BojanaMumsnet]

Hello,

After the events on Mumsnet over the last couple of weeks, lots of you have been asking questions and sharing advice on how to stay safe online.

So we’re pleased to announce a webchat with Graham Cluley, an award-winning computer security blogger, researcher and public speaker, to tackle your cyber-security-related questions.

Graham has given talks about computer security for some of the world's largest companies, worked with law enforcement agencies on investigations into hacking groups, and regularly appears on TV and radio explaining computer security threats.

He was inducted into the InfoSecurity Europe Hall of Fame in 2011, and was given an honorary mention in the "10 Greatest Britons in IT History" for his contribution as a leading authority in internet security. Visit his website here.

Please do join us tomorrow Wednesday 2 September at 1pm or post a question for Graham here in advance if you can’t. As ever, please do remember our webchat guidelines.

Thanks
MNHQ

@dontstopmenow

What would your best advice on usernames and passwords be for a user like me - can't retain information for more than a day or so and I would have no hope of remembering passwords if they were not written down! Thank you.

Get a password manager. Make sure that you use unique passwords for every website you use. Get the password manager to generate complex, long passwords for you.

You have NO HOPE of remembering complex unique passwords yourself. You can't even remember why you came downstairs, or where you left the ironing board cover.

Get a password manager.

Thank you! It's like you are here: I usually cannot remember why I came downstairs!

@LineyReborn

What do you think happened to Mumsnet when it was hacked? How bad was it?

Hi LineyReborn

I don't know all the details, but it seems to me that they have acted responsibly and transparently. Their openness with their users is to be applauded.

I often think the most important thing is not whether a site you are a member of gets hacked, but how well they responded to it. From what I've seen Mumsnet has taken the attacks seriously.

*fare

@ChristineDePisan

Personally I am incredibly uncomfortable about making the link between my real life identity (and a plethora of personal information, both mine and my friends) and something like MN which is largely anonymous.

Hi Christine

I think that's fair enough. We could probably talk for an entire hour about Facebook and its peculiar relationship with privacy...

I think it's perfectly reasonable to limit the amount of information you share with Facebook to a bare minimum.

Thanks for answering my question Graham. I shall go and get Mint 17.02 or the new Fedora.

My user name is a nod to Count Arthur Strong .

@ImperialBlether

Can I please ask a question here on behalf of some women who have horrible partners?

If a person suspects their partner knows a little too much about their lives, including stuff they've not been told, making them think they are accessing their accounts, what could they do? Assume they have a phone and a laptop/tablet.

It's a ghastly scenario - and one that is very hard to handle securely, because it goes beyond technology and into fleshy human territory.

You can have the best security in the world on your smartphone, but if your partner is capable of scaring you into unlocking your iPhone, or entering your password, all bets are off.

My recommendations would include using an alternative browser (rather than the one built into your operating system) that automatically deletes your web history and is password protected. Via that you could access a secure messaging service, which would leave no trace of a secure messaging app on the phone itself.

There may be more advice on the Digital-Trust website which deals with a lot of these issues.

Thanks for asking

@HannaCotta

Totally non nerdy question.... Given we only have an hour, can you recommend the best places on the web (or elsewhere) for a complete novice to better educate themselves about online security. General info, advice and the best software to use?

There's so much info out there, but it strikes me that you only know if what you're reading is reliable/any good, if you already know?

Non-nerdy questions are welcome here!

Some good resources:

Get Safe Online - www.getsafeonline.org/

Digital Trust - www.digital-trust.org/

and my own site grahamcluley.com, where I try to address computer security issues in plain English, and you can ask questions in the forum.

Hope that helps!

Eeek.. we're running out of time. Hasn't it flown by?

Hi Graham,

I recently switched from Windows to MacBook, and wondered why there is no recommendation to install anti-virus software on Macs.

Thank you very much Graham.

@BoreofWhabylon

I use my ipad for all personal stuff. I am told it is much 'safer' in terms of online security. How true is this and which password manager would you recommend for ipad?

Yep, iPads are great. No real malware problem on them (providing you don't jailbreak) unlike Android, Windows PCs or Macs.

Password managers for iPads? 1Password and LastPass get good reviews. There are others of course.

Thank you Graham! You've been very helpful today, and may I just say on behalf of all of us, you sound like a very nice man and are welcome back anytime for a and to share your cheesy biscuits story.

Ta!

@MmmeTunnocks

recently switched from Windows to MacBook, and wondered why there is no recommendation to install anti-virus software on Macs.

Let me fix that right now. You should definitely use anti-virus software on your Mac.

Yes, there are only a handful of new Mac threats found each week compared to hundreds of thousands for Windows, but that's not going to make you feel any better if your Mac gets infected. Sort it out!

Thanks everyone for posting such great questions. I've tried to reply as fully as possible, and I'm sorry to those I didn't manage to get around to. Hopefully we can do this again sometime.

If you want to know more about me, or learn more about computer security, check out my website or follow me on Twitter / Facebook:

Website: www.grahamcluley.com
Twitter: @gcluley
Facebook: Graham Cluley Security News

Stay safe!

Thanks for answering Graham

What imperialBlether was asking is obviously a very wide and pertinent issue on mumsnet and as it does stray into 'real life' perhaps Mumsnet would find someone to do another webchat covering the Venn Doagram overlap of domestic violence/ someone wanting to leave partner/being stalked and that of digital security?

Thanks Graham. Please come back again!

@Girlwhowearsglasses

perhaps Mumsnet would find someone to do another webchat covering the Venn Doagram overlap of domestic violence/ someone wanting to leave partner/being stalked and that of digital security?

Jennifer Perry of Digital Trust would be great at that. Just my $0.02

Excellent suggestion GirlWhoWearsGlasses!

Good and very useful webchat - thanks to all.

Thanks Graham

That's been the most interesting webchat I've seen on MN...

That was such an interesting webchat. Thanks for answering my question. Any chance of you approaching Jennifer Perry, MNHQ?

Right, the bar has been set for how a webchat should work: questions answered knowledgably in real time, in plain English. Politicians take note...

Thank you so much for the webchat. I have found it incredibly useful and have now got a list of action points that I need to errrrrr action asap!

I would echo calls for this to be a regular webchat. How about it JustineMumsnet?

We'll definitely approach Jennifer Perry from Digital Trust for a chat and we'll certainly ask Graham back.

Thanks to all for joining in.